Gas regulator



' Aug. 3o, 1932. R D. WOLFE 1,874,680

GAS REGULATOR Filed Oct. 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 idd/ffii 'Illawilli/1111111111111..

Aug. 3o, 193:'n K, R D, WLFE v 1,874,680

GAS REGULATOR v v v vv I ly////l j 7 go g5 6 1 R7.. mento@ i3 Kenwe'l ILD. Wolfe,

La; m

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE KENNETH B. D. WOLFE, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA, ASSIGNOB T THE FISHER GOV- ERNOR COMPANY, yOF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

GAS REGULATOR Appnoanon med october s, 192s. serial No. 811,189.

My invention consists in new and useful improvements in gas pressure regulators, and has for its object to provide a device of this character, which is simple in construction and operation, and one which is purely automatic in its functon.

Another object of my invention is to provide adjustable automatic means for controlling the pressure of gas or other fluid passing throu h a pipe line.

A still urther object of my invention is to increase the sensitiveness of the regulator by eliminating a number of the usual bearings and frictional connections.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,

my invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views, Fig. 1 is 'a view in vertical cross section, of

one `form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of anotherembodiment employing the same but disclosing the use of a plurality of crossed spring strips in place of the coil spring for opposing the gas pressure on the diaphragm,

Fig. 3 is a view of a further modification of my invention, illustrating an arrangement wherein the inlet valve operates in the-reverse direction.

Fig. 4 ,is an enlarged detail of the inlet valve shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5`is asimilar view of the inlet valve shown inl'Fig'.l 3.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, l represents the main body or casing of the regulator, which consists of upper and lower members 2 and 3 respectively. The lower member or chamber 3, is substantially bowl-shaped, and provided upon its under surface with supports 4, for securing the same in place. In one wall of the chamber 3, I provide an outlet aperture 5, threaded to receive a suitable connection, and in the opposite wall, I provide an inlet opening 6, adapted to receive an inlet valve, as hereinafter set forth.

general principle,

The upper member 2 of the casing 1, is somewhat similar in shape to an inverted bowl, having an upwardly extending tube or neck 7, located centrally thereof. The members 2 and 3 are secured together `in opposed 55 relation with a diaphragm 8, interposed therebetween, by means of a plurality of threaded bolts 9, adapted to be inserted at predetermined points around the peripheries of said members.

Y represents a coil spring rotatably secured to the upper surfaceof the diaphragm 8, by means of a recessed supporting disk 11, pivotally mounted or. said diaphragm by a threadedv screw 12, which extends downwardly through said diaphragm into a disk 13 on the under side thereof. The spring 10 extends upwardly through the neck 7 of the casing 1, and carries at its upper end a secondrecessed supporting disk 14, which is centrally apertured to receive a downwardly projecting centering lug 15 on the under side of the top of the adjusting member 16. This adjusting member 16 is cylindrical in shape, and its outer walls are threaded to engage corresponding threads at the upper extremity of the neck 7, whereby when said member 16 is screwed downwardly, spring 10 will become compressed, and when screwed outwardly, said spring will be permitted to expand.

The upper extremity of the neck 7 is reduced to receive a cap or cover 17, which is secured in place by means of a screw 18, also adapted to serve as a set screw for locking the adjusting member 16 at the desired point.

19 represents an inlet valve adapted to be secured in the inlet aperture 6 of the casing 1, and consists of a body portion 20, threaded at its outer end to engage a locking nut 21, and provided toward its inner end with 9s a projecting ring 22 for engaging a circular recess in the wall ofthe chamber 3, just inside the inlet aperture 6, whereby when said nut 21 is tightened, said body member 2O is drawn outwardly and secured tightly in 95 place within the aperture 6. Inside the valve body 20, and adapted to move longitudinally therein, is a valve head 23, its outer conical end adapted to seat at 24. The inner end of the valve head. 23 is secured to loo one e'nd of a strip 25 of suitable flexible metal, the other end of which is secured to an upwardly projecting post 26 within the chamber 3 of the casing 1.

The disk 13 -on the under surface of the diaphragm 8, is provided with a-downward- 1y extendin lug 27, to which the central portion of t e strip is loosely secured, as at 28.

The embodiment lshown in Fig. 2 is practically identical to the device just described, with the exception of the shape of the upper member 2 of the casing, 1, and the spring or opposing the face. of the' dia ragm. In this arrange-y ment,rinstead o the coil .pring v10, I provide two or more crosse bowed sprin strips 29 and 30, the central portions o which are secured together by a rivet or other suitable connection 31, while their free ends engage and press against the upper surface of the diaphragm 8. 32 represents an adjusting screw which is threaded to engage the inner threads of the neck of the upper member 2 of the casing l, its lower extremity contacting with the central portion of the uppermost sprin strip 29, and its upper extremity being s otted to receive a screw driver or other suitable instrument.

. This screw 32 may be locked in the desired struction and arrangement of parts of my improved gas pressure regulator, its operation is as follows.

Assuming that the device is connected in a gas or other pipe line with the fluid passing through the'same from the inlet 6 to the outlet 5, the diaphragm spring 10, or 29 and as the case may be, is adjusted to the desired tension to maintain a constant, even pressure on the discharge side of the valve 19. If the ressure increases in the chamber 3, the diaphragm 8 is forced upwardly against the pressure of the opposing spring, and causes the disk 13 to rise, and with 1t the lug'27, which in turn tends to straighten out the sprin strip 25, by raising its central portion, t usy causing the valve head 23 to move longitudinally toward the seat 24, to reduce the inlet aperture. On the other hand, if the pressure in the chamber 3 decreases, the opposing diaphragm spring will expand and cause said diaphragm to be forced downwardly thus drawing the valve head inwardly away from its seat 24, to per- .mit of the passage of more fluid through said valve.

Inv the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, the resilient strip 25 is flexed in the opposite direction from those heretofore described, which is accomplished by reducing the in s.

glhus, when, with the reduction of pres- 'sure within'the chamber 3, the diaphragm moves downwardly, the lug 27 tends to straighten out the stri 25 and forces the Vvalve head 23 outward y to open the inlet aperture. With the reverse movement of the diaphragrmon the increase of pressure in chamber 3, the valve head is drawn inwardly and seated, to restrict the inlet aperture.'

From'th'e foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be readil understood by those skilled in the art, and am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the s irit of the invention, as expressed in the fo lowing claims. A

What I claim and desire tov secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid regulator, comprising a casing, a valve and valve seat in said casmg a diaphragm in said casing, a strip of flexible material rigidly secured at one end, its other' end being directly" fastened-to said valve, and a connection between said diaphragm and the intermediate portion of said strip, whereby the movement of the diaphragm is transmitted directly to said valve.

2. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a casing, a diaphragm separating said casing into two chambers, one of which is in communication with the fluid being regulated, a spring mounted in the other chamber in contact with said diaphra m for opposing the fluid pressure, a longitudinally movable valve in said fluid chamber, a strip of flexible metal rigidly secured at one end within said last named chamber, its other end being directly fastened to said valve, and a connection between its intermediate portion and to said diaphragm, whereby the movement of the latter is transmitted directly to said valve.

3. A fluid regulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve is of the external seating type.

4. A fluid regulator comprising a casing having inlet and outlet openings, a cylindrical sleeve in said inlet opening, a seat within said sleeve exterior of sa1d casing, a valve extending through said sleeve and adapted to reciprocate therein, said valve having an enlarged head also exterior of said casing and adapted to engage said seat on the latters inlet face, a diaphragm in said casing, a stri of flexible material rigidly secured at one en its other end being directly fastened to said valve, and a connection between said diaphragm and the intermediate portion of said strip whereby' the movement of the diaphragm is transmitted directly to the valve to open or close said inlet. 5 5. A fluid regulator, comprising a casing,

a valve and valve seat in said casin a diaphragm in said casing, a strip of flexible material secured at one end, its other end being directly fastened to said valve, and a connection between said diaphragm and the intermediate portion o said strip, whereby the movement of the diaphragm is transmitted directly1 to said valve.

6. A fluid pressure regulator com rising av casing, a diaphragm separating said casing into two chambers, one of which is in com'- munication With the fiuid being regulated, a spring mounted in the other chamber in contact with said diaphragm for opposing. the 20 uid pressure, a longitudinally movable valve in said Huid chamber, a strip of iiexible metal secured at one end within said last named chamber, its other end being directly fastened to said valve, and a connection between its intermediate portion and said diaphragm, whereby the movement of the latter is transmitted directly to said valve.

7. A iuid regulator comprising a casing having inlet and outlet openings, a cylindrical sleeve in said inlet opening, a seat within said sleeve exterior of said casing, a valve extending through said sleeve and adapted to reciprocate therein, said valve having an en larged head also exterior of said casing and adapted to engage said seat on the latters inlet face, a diaphragm in said casing, a strip of flexible material secured at one end, its other end being directly fastened to said valve, and a connection between said diaphragm and the intermediate porti on of said strip whereby the movement of the diaphragm is transmitted directly to the valve to open or close said inlet.

8. In a pressure regulator, the combination of: a body forming a pressure chamber and having an inlet and an outlet; a diaphragm forming a wall of said chamber and having a central stud extending into said chamber; a valve for said inlet having an operating movement in a plane at right anles to the axis of said diaphragm; means or applying a redetermined pressure to the outer surface o said diaphragm; and a single bowed leaf-spring toggle member directly connected t said stud and valve for transmitting the movements of said diaphragm to said valve, said toggle member reducing the movements and increasing the power transmitted thereby.

9. In a pressure regulator, the combination of: walls forming a pressure chamber and an inlet and outlet therefor; a pressureresponsive member forming ar wall for said pressure chamber and being acted upon by 05 the pressure in said pressure chamber; regua plane at an angle to the movement of said lating means for exerting a force on said pressure-,responsive member in opposition to the force applied by the gas pressure in said pressure chamber; a valve for closing said inlet, said valve being movable in a plane at an angleito the movement of said pressure-re- .sponsive member; a toggle formed of a onepiece spring for operating said valve, one end of said toggle engaging said valve; and connecting-means for connecting said toggle and said pressure-res onsive means whereby said toggle is moved y said pressure-responsive means, said toggle being straightened as said valve moves toward closed position so that the force applied to said valve gradually increases.

10. In a pressure regulator, the combination of: walls forming a pressure chamber, and an inlet and an outlet therefor; a pressure-responsive member forming a wall for said pressure chamber; regulating means for exerting a force on said pressure-responsive member; a valve for said inlet, said valve being movable to open and close said inlet in pressure-responsive member; a one-piece toggle-spring, one end directly engaging said valve and the other end engaging said walls forming said pressure chamber, said togglespring beng bowed by compression so that said toggle yieldingly tends to hold said valve in closed position; and connecting means operatively connecting said toggle-spring and said pressure-responsive member.

11. In a pressure regulator, the combination of: walls forming a pressure chamber,` and an inlet and an outlet therefor; a pressure-responsive member forming a wall for said pressure chamber; regulating means for exerting a force on said pressure-responsive member; a valve for said inlet, said valve being movable yto open and close said inlet in a plane at an angle to the movement of said pressure-responsive member; a one-piece toggle-spring, one end directly engaging said valve and the other end pivotally engaging said walls forming said pressure chamber, said toggle-spring being bowed by compression so that said toggle-spring yieldingly tends to hold said valve in'closed position; 115 and connecting means operatively connecting said toggle-spring and said pressure-responsive member. A

l2. In a pressure regulator, the combination of: body forming a pressure chamber 12 having an outlet; a diaphragm forming a wall of said chamber and having a central stud extending into said chamber; means for applying a predetermined pressure to the outer surface of said diaphragm; an inlet nozzle associated with said chamber and positioned in a plane at right angles to the axis of said stud and forming a valve seat; a valve slidably associated with said nozzle; and a single toggle member associated with said 133 4- 1,a14,oso

` stud and having its ends connected to said valve and said bod for transmittin the movements of said diaphragm and sai stud to said valve, said toggle member reducing the movements and increasing the force vtransmitted thereby.

13. vA fluid regulator, comprising a casin a valve of the external seatin type and va ve seat located exterior of sai casing, a diaphragm in said casing, a strip of flexi ble material secured at one end, its other end being directly .fastened to said valve, and a connection between said diaphragm and the intermediate portion of sai strip, whereby the movement of the diaphragm 1s transmitted'directly to said valve.

' 14. A fluidy regulator comprising 'a casing having inlet and outlet o enmgs, a cylindrical sleeve exterior of sai casin a valve ex- ,o tending through said sleeve an adapted t0 reciprocate therein, said valve having an enlarged head also exterior of said casing and adapted to engage said seat on the latters inlet ace a diaphragm in said casing, a strip u of flexible material secured at one end, its other end being directly fastened to said valve, and a connection between said diaphragm and the intermediate portion of said strip whereby the movement of the dian phragm is transmitted directly to the valve to open or close said inlet.

In testimony whereof I aix m signature.

KENNETH R. D. OLFE. 

